Dana Heiman

Name:  Dana Heiman

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Age: 30

Occupation: Hair Stylist

When did you first start CrossFitting?: January 2012

‍

When did you first start training at CrossFit Katy?: January 2012

What class do you generally attend (morning/afternoon)? Afternoon

Favorite WOD: Right now, anything with rope climbs or double-unders!

Least Favorite WOD: Anything with deadlift!

Tell us about you sports & fitness background:

I ran track, cross country, and swam in high school. From high school until I started CrossFit, I was in and out of the globo gym and did boot camp.

How did you first get exposed to CrossFit? Take us back to your first WOD… what was it, and how did it feel?

Adam introduced me to CrossFit! I don’t remember my first WOD, but I do remember the strength portion of class being strict press and Leah was coaching. I remember how heavy that 45lb bar felt and how proud I was to put those 2.5lb plates on! 😉 I remember absolutely loving it but being scared to death! I think I had butterflies before class for about 2 months!

What sort of changes have you seen in your body, health and fitness since starting CF (before/after)?

The changes that I have seen have been incredible since I started CrossFit. When I started at CrossFit Katy, I weighed about 124lbs. As you can see from my before picture, it was all skin and bones. I was pretty scrawny, but it was mostly fat. I had no muscle! Since then, I have gradually gained weight and I now weigh 15lbs more. I have made it a goal to gain lean mass and although I have done well so far, I am still trying to gain more. I never thought I’d be so happy to get on the scale and see bigger numbers! A lot of this has to do with CrossFit classes, training hard, and showing up every day. The rest of it has to do with the nutrition side. Luckily, we have such knowledgeable trainers when it comes to nutrition. I have learned so much and I’d say I’ve made a big change in my diet over the last year. However, in the last 4 months I have gotten strict and not allowed myself the usual excuses, and now I have seen amazing results by counting my macronutrients. This method has really worked for me. I feel so much better, healthier, and stronger! As far as the change in fitness, I have gained so much strength on all my lifts! In three years, I have become stronger, faster, more coordinated, and found the intensity that I feared when I started. During that time, improving my attitude contributed to the positive outcomes in CrossFit as a whole!

What sort of changes in your life have you experienced out of taking on something like CrossFit that were totally unexpected?

One of the two biggest changes is my attitude!  I am more confident overall, and my work ethic in CrossFit has transferred to all aspects of my life. The other is how I’ve prioritized my health! I’d always cared about it, but I had never made the conscious effort to make the necessary adjustments. I love talking about health and fitness and sharing it!

Name one goal you have reached since joining CFK and one goal you want to achieve (example:  deadlift/squat/press ­­­___ pounds; do a pullup; do a WOD RX’d, etc.):

Goals I have reached are getting a muscle-up, strict handstand pushups, legless rope climbs, hand stand walking, snatched 115lb, won a competition(Adam, Britt, Chad were my teammates lol), and got my L1.

Goals I would still like to achieve are doing unbroken muscle-ups, butterfly pull-ups, butterfly chest to bar, hand stand walk the length of the gym, and learn to love deadlift!

Please share with us any favorite CrossFit / CFK moments:

Some of my favorite moments at CrossFit Katy have more to do with Adam and the CFKaty team than myself! Day three of Regionals last year wins most memorable! The adrenaline and excitement of cheering for the regional team was unbelievable. They were incredible all weekend, and that final day was unforgettable. Every single fan that the team brought was on their feet cheering and screaming, and Neal was going crazy! I will never forget the feeling of the CrossFit Katy community’s support! The moment we all realized they were going to the games was so surreal! The next most memorable was at the CrossFit Games. The entirety of that week, and seeing that level of CrossFit, was the most motivated I have ever been!

Any advice for people just getting started?

Stick with it! Each day gets better and better! At first, CrossFit can be so intimidating, but now, it’s just simply addicting! Record everything! Every lift, every workout! You will surprise yourself over and over! Dive in to all of it, not just the class, but the community! The community at Crossfit Katy is a large portion of what sets it apart!

What are your hobbies, interests and/or talents outside of CrossFit?

Outside of crossfit, I love to spend time with family, friends, and I love going to concerts!

‍